Women's Track & Field

Women's Track & Field Places Second At NEC Championship

Feb 17, 2018

The Sacred Heart University women's indoor track and field team finished in second place at the 2018 Northeast Conference Championship. The Pioneers scored 106 points, falling three shy of LIU Brooklyn. Kate Svensen was named Most Outstanding Track Performer (Distance) and Akuadasuo Ezenyilimba earned Most Outstanding Field Performer in the throws.

Kate Svensen was the NEC Distance Athlete of the Championship, earning two individual titles, the first track wins of her career. Svensen crossed the line in 10:02.82 in the 3000 meters, with teammates Lindsey Lucas (10:04.95) and Tara Connelly (10:07.47) right behind her. The senior trio earned 24 points for the Pios in the event.

Svensen also pulled away in the 5000 meters, crossing the line in an ECAC time of 17:20.03, that beat out the 2nd place finisher, Dawn Hubbell (CCSU) by more than seven seconds. Teammates Lucas and Connelly also picked up points in the event, finishing 3rd and 4th in 17:29.00 and 17:33.74, respectively. Emma Cary also scored in the event, finishing 7th in 18:01.88, the first indoor championship top-8 performance of her career.

Akuadasuo Ezenyilimba held her position going into this weekend, firing off a season best and ECAC mark of 18.40m, to win her first NEC individual title by more than 1 meter. Right behind her was teammate Jenna Rothermel, who crushed her personal best with an ECAC throw measuring in at 17.23m for a silver medal. Another veteran, Kristina Klemenz, dropped a personal best of 15.00m to take 7th in the event. The trio earned SHU 20 points in the event.

Four women earned a spot in the 800 meter finals, and graduate student Hannah Chamblin gave NCAA Regional qualifier and returning NEC champion from FDU, Mae Thompson, a run for her money. Chamblin was edged out by Thompson by just half of a second, as Chamblin crossed the line in 2nd with a new school record, personal best and ECAC qualifying time of 2:11.73.